Pallet



PALLET Filed June 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,W INVENTOR.

k j? qnnmr DARLING 1? 6 BY myw J HTTORNE'V Aug. 23, 1949. G. DARLING2,479,728

PALLET Filed June 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l LA N (30 I Mi Him! 1IIIIIIIIIIII I M 4 Fzcb. 9 J 4 30 1 WW I 5 EU/ W IN V EN TOR. GRREMEDARLING Patented Aug. 23, 1949 I UNITED STATE PATENT PALLET GraemeDarling, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 10, 1946, Serial No. 675,751 5Claims. (01. 248-120) This invention relates to material platforms andhas more particular reference to platforms generally known as pallets orskids, which are used in conjunction with industrial fork lift trucksand the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide a pallet or skid whichis strong and durable, light in weight, simple in construction andinexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet or skid having adeck structure which includes top and bottom members provided withlightening holes, an intermediate corrugated member and reinforcingmembers connecting the top and bottom members to the intermediatemember.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet or skid having adeck structure as characterized above in which all of the members arepressed from sheet material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet having a deckconstruction which resists crushing and provides stiffness in alldirections.

with the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a single face, four-way pallet construction inaccordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with parts brokenaway;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, with a part broken away, taken onthe line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, with a part broken away, taken onthe line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, with a part broken away, taken onthe line 'l| of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an end view of a double face fourway pallet having decksconstructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of deck construction with apart broken away;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line ll0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an end view of the deck shown in Fig. 9, with parts brokenaway; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective exploded view showing how the members whichcomprise the deck structure are assembled.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, there is shown a single facefour-way pallet comprising a supporting platform or deck I0 and aplurality of depending supporting legs ll so arranged as to permit theentrance of the forks of the usual commercial lift fork truck from atleast four directions. The supporting platform or deck ID is preferablymade rectangular in shape and comprises an intermediate corrugated plate[2, a top plate l3, a top cover plate M, a bottom plate IS, a bottomcover plate l6, and side-cover plates ll, l8, l9 and 20. The side coverplates l1, l8, l9 and 20 may be formed as separate plates; however, inthe particular embodiment shown, the side cover plates H and H! areformed integral with the top plate [3, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Theside cover plates l8 and 20 are formed integral with the top cover plateIt, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The intermediate plate I2 is rectangular inshape and is formed with aplurality of transversely extending rows of alternating top openingchannels 2| and bottom opening channels 22. These channels may be madeof any desired shape in cross section, in the particular embodimentshown, they are rectangular in cross section. The bottom plate I5 isrectangular in shape and is provided with av plurality of transverselyextending spaced rows of spaced integral upwardly projecting tongues orfins 23. These tongues or fins are formed as partially cut out portionsof the bottom plate [5 and are of a size and shape to be received andfit in the bottom opening channels 22 in the intermediate plate It.

The top plate is is rectangular in shape and is provided with a pluralitof transversely extending spaced rows of spaced integral dependingtongues or fins 24. These tongues or fins are formed as partially cutout portions of the top plate l3 and are of a size and shape to bereceived by and fix in the top opening channels 2| in the intermediateplate l2.

In the particular embodiment shown, the left and right hand end portionsof the top plate 13, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, are bent downwardly toform the side cover plates I1 and I9, respectively.

The transversely extending rows of depending fins formed in the topplate I 3 and bottom plate l5 are so spaced laterally of each otherthat, when the top and bottom plates are superimposed upon the top andbottom, respectively, of the intermediate plate l2, each row ofdepending fins is received in one of the top opening channels and eachrow of upwardly projecting fins is re- Figs. 5 and 6, and the contactingsurfaces of the three plates, as well as the contacting edges of thefins and the walls of the channels are suitably secured together. Whenthe plates are assembled as described above, each depending and upwardlyprojecting fin is in horizontal alignment with the laterally adjacentdepending and upwardly projecting fins, as shown in Fig. 6, thus forminga plurality of horizontally extending spaced rows of fins which act asstrengthening or reinforcing members. In this connection, it should bepointed out that the vertical side walls of the top and bottom openingchannels form a plurality of transversely extending spaced rows ofstrengthening or reinforcing members. The openings 25 and 26 formed inthe top and bottom plates when the partially cut out portions which formthe fins are bent upwardly and downwardly, respectively, act aslightening holes. Due to this construction, the plates which form thedeck structure can be made of very thin sheet material and still permitthe deck to be strong and with a. great resistance to crushing. The deckstructure is completed by superimposing the bottom cover plate l6 uponthe bottom plate [5. While the-end plates l8 and 20 may be made asseparate plates; in the particular embodiment shown, they are formed bybending the front and back edge portions of the top cover platedownwardly as shown in Fig. 7.

In order to reduce the weight of the pallet, the top and bottom coverplates may be omitted, if desired. It is contemplated that all of theplates be made from sheet material such as cardboard, plastic or thinsheet metal. and pressed to the desired shape and suitably securedtogether by gluing or, in the case of metal, by spot or contact welding.

The supporting legs may be made of wood, plastic, compressed layers ofcardboard or light weight metal. In the particular embodiment shown,they are made in the form of rectangular blocks and. are secured to thedeck by gluing or, in the case of metal, by spot or contact weld- InFig. 8, there is shown a double faced fourway pallet. This palletcomprises a top supporting platform or deck 21; a bottom supportingplatform or deck 28 and a plurality of spacing members 29 so located asto permit the entrance of the forks of a commercial lifting fork truckfrom at least four directions. The decks 21 and 28 are similar inconstruction to the deck I0. The spacing members 29 are similar inconstruction to the supporting legs ll of the one face pallet and aresecured to the top and bottom decks 21 and 28 by gluing or, in the caseof metal, by welding.

In Figs, 9, 10, 11 and 12, there is shown another modification of deckstructure. The supportingplatform or deck shown in these figurescomprises a top plate 30; an intermediate corrugated plate 3| and abottom plate 32.

The top plate 30 is a rectangular plate provided with a plurality oftransversely extending spaced rows of spaced integral depending tonguesor fins 33 formed from partially cut out portions of the top plate 30.In the particular modification shown, the fins are rectangular in shape,

The intermediate plate 3| is a rectangular plate corrugated to form aplurality of transversely extending alternating top opening channels 34and bottom opening channels 35. In the particular embodiment shown, thechannels are rectangular in cross section.

The sheets are cut The bottom plate 32 is a rectangular plate providedwith a plurality of transversely extending spaced rows of spacedintegral upwardly projecting tongues-or fins 36 formed from partiallycut out portions of the bottom plate 32. In the particular modificationshown, the fins are rectangular in shape. The transversely extendingrows of fins formed in the top and bottom plates are laterally spacedapart so that when the plates are assembled with the top plate insuperimposed relationship on the top of the intermediate plate and thebottom plate in superimposed relationship on the bottom of theintermediate plate, each row of depending fins is received and fits inone of the top opening channels and each row of upwardly projecting finsis received and fits in one of the bottom opening channels, all asclearly shown in Figs. 10 and 12. This particular construction issimilar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, thedistinguishing feature lying in the use of the outer side wall 31 of theextreme left top opening channel to form the side wall of the deck andthe outer side wall 38 of the extreme right bottom opening channel toform the right side wall of the deck, and the use of the rear rows ofdepending and upstanding fins, indicated at 39, to form the back sidewall of the deck and the forward rows of depending and upstanding fins,indicated at 40, to form the front wall of the deck, all as clearlyshown in Fig. 12.

When the plates are assembled as above described, the contacting surfaceof the three plates, as well as the contacting edges of the fins and thewalls of the channels are suitably secured together, as by gluing whenthe plates are made from cardboard or plastic material, or by spot orcontact welding when the plates are made from sheet metal.

With the plates assembled as described above, each depending andupwardly projecting fin is in horizontal alignment with the laterallyadjacent depending and upwardly projecting fins, thus forming aplurality of horizontally extending spaced rows of fins which act asstrengthening or reinforcing members. The side walls of the top andbottom opening channels form a plurality of transversely extendingspaced rows of strengthening or reinforcing members.

The openings 4| and 42 formed in the top and bottom plates when thepartially cut out portions which form the fins are bent downwardly andupwardly, respectively, acting as lightening holes.

It is contemplated that deck structures as above assembled may be usedas a supporting platform without the use of supporting legs, or used asthe deck in a one face pallet, or used as the upper and lower decks intwo face pallets.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodimentsthereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensiblethat all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since theymay be employed advantageously in various combinations andsub-combinations.

-What is claimed is:

l. A supporting platform for pallets and the like, comprising anintermediate member corrugated to form a plurality of transverse rows ofalternate top and bottom opening channels; a top member co-extensivewith and covering said intermediate member and being provided with aplurality of rows of spaced depending fins formed by partially cut outportions thereof, each row of fins being located and extending insuperimposed relationship over a corresponding top opening channel insaid intermediate member, the peripheral edges of each of said finsbeing fastened to'the surface of the receiving channel, a bottom memberco-extensive with and covering the bottom of said intermediate memberand being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced upwardlyprojecting fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, each rowof upwardly projecting fins being located and extending in superimposedrelationship over a corresponding bottom opening channel in saidintermediate member, the peripheral edge of each of said upwardlyprojecting fins being fastened to the surface of the receiving channel.

2. A supporting platform, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outerwalls of the extreme right and left channels form the right and leftside walls of the platform and the front and rear rows of depending andupwardly projecting fins forming the front and rear side walls of theplatform.

3. A pallet comprising a supporting platform, said platform including anintermediate member corrugated to form a plurality of transverse rows ofalternating top and bottom opening channels, a top member co-extensivewith and covering said intermediate member and being provided with aplurality of rows of spaced lightening openings,

, each row of openings being located and extending in superimposedrelationship over a corresponding top opening channel in saidintermediate member, a bottom member co-extenslve with and covering thebottom of said intermediate member and being provided with a pluralityof rows of spaced lightening openings, each row of openings beinglocated and extending in superimposed relationship over a correspondingbottom opening channel in said intermediate member, reinforcing meansconnecting said top and bottom members to said intermediate member, saidreinforcing means including fins formed as partially cut out portions ofthe top and bottom members and bent downwardly and upwardly into contactwith said intermediate member and secured thereto, and supporting legsdepending from said platform.

i. A pallet comprising a supporting platform, said platform including anintermediate member corrugated to form a plurality of transverse rows ofalternate top and bottom opening channels, a top member co-extensivewith and covering said intermediate member and being provided with aplurality of rows of spaced depending fins formed by partially cut outportions thereof, each row of fins being located and extending insuperimposed relationship over a corresponding top opening channel insaid intermediate member, the peripheral edges of each of said finsbeing fastened to the surface of the receiving channel, a bottommemberco-extensive with and covering the bottom of said intermedi-- atemember and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced upwardlyprojecting fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, each rowof upwardly projecting fins being located and extending in-superimposedrelationship over a corresponding bottom opening channel in saidintermediate member, the peripheral edge of each of said upwardlyprojecting fins being fastened to the surface of the receiving channel;and supporting legs depending from said platform.

5. A pallet comprising an upper and lower platform, each of saidplatforms including an intermediate member corrugated to form aplurality of transverse rows of alternate top and bottom openingchannels, a top member co-extensive with and covering the top of saidintermediate member and being provided with a plurality of rows ofspaced depending fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, eachrow of fins being located and extending in superimposed relationshipover a corresponding top opening channel in said intermediate member,the peripheral edges of each of said fins being fastened to the surfaceof the receiving channel, a bottom member co-extensive with and coveringthe bottom of said intermediate member and being provided with aplurality of rows of spaced upwardly projecting fins formed by partiallycut out portions thereof, each row of upwardly projecting REFERENCESCITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,049,910 Peck Jan. '7, 19132,148,150 Clark Feb. 21, 1939 2,335,836 Zimmerman Nov. 30, 19432,369,944 Cahners Feb. 20, 1945 2,372,055 Braun Mar. 20, 1945

